Illuminated sign



July 31, 192s.

J. w. wHlsENAN-r ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Dec. 29, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet Jaim WW/smmf y awww Iuy Si, 1928., A 1,678,755

' A J. W.. WHISNANT ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Dec. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c@ .4. F, W

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co/zlz .W W/zisenalz Patented .lilly 31, 1928.

rrr: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed December 29, 1.927. Serial No. 243,334.

j rI`his invention relates broadly to illuminated signs adapted to be used for display purposes in store display windows or vvherever found desirable.

a The main object of the invention is to pr'ovide a. sign having parts arranged to re'ect Jfrom a mirror a design thrown thereon by light rays passing through an opaque'screen having parts made transparent to form the 'l0 desired design. Y

A furtherobject is to provide a sign of the class mentioned having the design screen adjustable relative to its support and having a mirror adjustable relatively to said screen.

Another object ot' the invention is to provide a sign of this character vvhich can be folded for convenience in handling during the erection thereot' and for convenience in shipping.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the dravvingz Figure 1 is a perspective vievv of the sign with its parts in operative position:

Figure 2 is an end elevation ot the sign as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the sign;

Figure t is a plan vievv of the sign; Figure is a vertical section of the sign taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure -6 is a fragmentary central transverse section, to a larger scale, of the design carrying frame taken on line 6-6 of Figure il.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line T-T of Figure Q.

Figure 8 is a vation of the sign with sition.

As shown in the dravving the sign comprises a supporting trame F having a back 1, sides 2 and 3, bottom i and top .5.

The upper part of the Jframe is provided vvith a front coveil 6 provided vvith hooks 7 45 adapted to receive the ends of supporting y chains S which may be attached Wherever desired to support the frame. A lamp bulb 9 suitablv secured to the cover 6 is arranged under `a rellector 10 in order to direct the fragmentary lsectional ele- 1ts parts in closed polight rays on to a design screen secured in a.-

frame 11 secured by hinges 12 to pover 6.

Supporting rods 13 at each end of frame 11 have one of their ends pivotally connected to the hooks T and have their other ends pivoted to slides 1l mounted to slide in grooves 15 formed by substantially Z-shaped plates 16 and the flanges 17 and 1S of the frame 11. The upper face of frame 11 is provided with slots 19 in which the `shanlis of hooks :20 slide; and thumb screws :21 secure the slides 14 in desired'adjusted positions on frame 11. By this arrangement thel trame 11 can be adjusted and held in any desired position relative to the supporting frame F.

A design frame 2'2 is supported by flanges 1S in the recess formed by flanges 1T and 18, and, is detachablv held in said recesses by .any suitable means such as the turn buttons 23 rotatably fixed in the upper t'ace of frame 11. Preferably the design or lettering ,of the sign is outlined on the lovver face 21 of the design glass 25 and all the glass within this outline is maintained clear. vvhile the remainder of the glass is coated to prevent the transmission of light therethrough. Preferably, I use a ruby glass hav ing the upper surface 26 ornamentally vvaved or beaded," and I prefer to blacken the under side 25, around the design outline, with black silver oxide. In order to protect the design, I may use a sheet- QT of glass or other suitable transparent material to prevent, scratching or accidental removal of the silver oxide coating.

A frame 28 carrying a mirror 29 is connected to swing on frame 11 by hinges 30; and, in order to cut off objectionable side lights, the ends of frame 28 are connected to the ends of frame 11 by means of pleated arcuate end Walls 31 designed to fold and unfold as frame 28 is adjusted toward or from frame 11. In order to hold the mirror frame 28 in any desired adjusted position relative to the frame 11, each end of these frames has pivoted thereto the toggle links 32 adapted to be locked in any position relative angular adjustment .by means of the locking thumb nut 33.

It vvill be. apparent from the dravving that the design and mirror frames may be folded into the supporting frame F when not in use, and in this form can be easily handled for erection or shipping purposes. The angle to vvhich the design and mirror frames are adjusted vvill depend upon the relative location of the sign and the points from which itmust be vievved; and ofcourse, will depend upon the effectdesired.

The black oxide or other coating on the lovver smooth Jface, ot `glass Q5 constitutes a stencil and may be replaced by any suitable stencil plate having the design contour cut out to permit the transmission of light therethrough from lamp 9 intothe mirror 29, and thence by reflection at any desired angle to the View point of an observer at the front of the frame. ln rthis particular case the stencil is cut to form the word Drugs; but it is to be understood that any desired form of stencil with any preferred form of design cut therethrough can be substituted for the stencil illustrated.

lfVhat I claim is 1. A sign comprising a support having a frame hinged thereto, a transparent plate in said frame, a stencil' on one face of said plate, a mirror adjustable angularly relative, to said frame, and means for holding said ,l frame in its angularly adjusted position.

2. A sign comprising a support, a transparent plate having a design stenciled thereon, means for adjusting said pla-te angularly relative t said support, a mirror angularly adj ust-able relative to said, plate, and means for holding said mirror in its angularly ad- 'j usted position.

3. A sign comprising a support, a light extending from said support, a stenciled amarte transparent plate hinged to said support below said light, a mirror hinged below said plate, flexible light excluding means connecting the ends of said plate to the ends of said mirror, means for adjusting and holding `said plate and mirror angularly with respect to said sup-port.

4f. A sign comprising a support, a frame hinged to said support, a stenciled design plate detaclrablymounted in said frame, a mirror hinged to said frame, means for holding saidvmirror in any desired angular adjustmentrelative to said frame, means for angularly adjusting said frame and mirror simultaneously relative to said support, and means for locking the last named means in adjusted position.

5. A sign comprising a casing, a frame hinged to the upper part of said casing, a stenciled design plate detafrhably mounted in said frame, means for angularly adjusting said frame and mirror Arelative to said casing, said mirror and frame being hinged together for housing in said casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W'. WHISENAN T. 

